Means of regulating, treating, and distributing water or other fluid.



. 1). GOOHRANE. KEANE OF REGULATING, TREATING, AND DISTRIBUTING WATER OR OTHER FLUID.

a BHBETSSEBET 1.

APPLIUATION FILER NOV. 22, 1905.

Patented July 19 1). GOGHRANE. I MEANS OF REGULATING, TREATING, AND DISTRIBUTING WATER OB OTH ER FLUID.-

APPLICATION FILED HOV. 22, 1905. I

@ 451 3. I Patented Jlily 19,1910. Mums-SHEET 2.

1 1 3y 38 \F- I; 7

, I 0 O 3 Q 15 &@

. D. OOGHRANE. MEANS OF REGULATING, TREATING, AND DISTRIBUTING WATER OR OTHER FLUID.

APPLICATION FILED HOT. 22, 1905.

. Patented July 19, 1910.

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n. cocmmim. I v LIEANS OI BEGULATING; TREATING, AND DISTRIBUTING WATER OR OTHER FLUID APPLIOATION FILED N0'V.22;,-1906.

Patented Ju1y19,110.

GSHEETS-SHEET 4.

D. GOGHRANB.

MEANS or BEGULATING, TREATING, AND DISTRIBUTING WATER OTHER FLUID.

APPLICATION FILED NOV 964, 6 1 3.

Patented July 1?}, 152% 6 SHEETS-$31521 i) GGOHRANE.

TRIBUTING WATER OR OTHER FLUID. ED 310K212, 1905.

OF Emu-13mm MEANS TREATING, MID DIS APPLICATION 21 Patented July 19, 1910.

6 SHEBTS-SHEET 6.

ATTORNEY JEN QM DAVID COCHRANE, OF PHILADELPHi-A, PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS OF REGULATING, TREATING, AND DISTRIBUTING WATER O33, FLUID.

Specification of Letters Patent.

- Patented Jul it J 9 Application filed November 22, 1905. Serial No. 38,534.

To all whom it mo'y'eoncern:

[Be it known that-.1, Davin COOHRANE, a citizen of the United States, and resident of and whose post-oflice address is No. 1814 North Twenty-seventh street, in the city of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Means of Regulating, Treating, and Distributing Water or other Fluid, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the' means of regulating, treatin and distributing water or other fluid, and especi'ally'where a plurality of heaters are utilized for treating feed water.

The primary objects of my invention are, first, to provide a simple, eilicient and economical way of automatically supplying equal and proper amounts of water and steam simultaneously to all the heaters, so as to secure a uniformity of etiiciency in all the heaters and insure that each shall do its proper proportion of the work that is to be done irrespective of its load; second, to permit one or more of the units to be readily cut out or temporarily eliminated from the operating combination without materially affecting the operation of the whole'or' reducing the necessary available supply.

Heretot'orc in large plants or in plants running continuously, where two or more heaters have been installed because of size or so that one or more could be cut out for cleaning, ithas been found that when they discharge into a commonsuction or pump supply line (which is the usual practice) there is a large variation in the quantity oi water passing through the different heaters if the supply to them is controlled by a float in each heater working a separate regulating valve. This is due tothe fact that no system of valves and piping will insure the flow of equal quantities of water through each heater, and, of course, the regulating valve will only replace that quantity of water which is taken away. This is a serious drawback where the quantity of steam for heating the water is limited, because part of this steam may be wasted through its escape from the heater that is getting the least Water,-for while there may be an equal division of the steam there may not be an equal division of the water,-and consequently there will be a surplus of steam in the heater to which is delivered the smaller quantity of water and a deficiency of steam in the heater which is receiving the larger quantity of water. Agaim'where chemical or other purification is desirable, it is do vious that the travel of the water through all of the heaters should be at the same rate so as to give equal time to libera e bring the impurities into deposit them.

i I attain my objects by employing the means and devices set forth in the accompanying description and drawings, in which like numbers of reference refer to like parts throughout the various views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a battery of two feed water heaters and. their accessories to which my invention has been applied, taken from plane -c-cZ, Fig. Fig. 2- is an end elevation taken between the Figs. 1 and 3, and showing the dividing box, float chamber, and connection. Fig. 3 is a plan "iew of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, with the addition of the exhauststeam pipe and transfer valve. Fig.- 4-- is a plan view of a battery of eight heaters and accessories. Fig. 5 is a double side elevation of the battery shown in Fig. 4, one half being taken from. the plane a b a lilg. 4, and constituting the treat view; the

VlEW. Fi 6 is an enlar ed detail in the side elevation of the dividing box shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as applied to batteries of two heaters, showing the interior divisions in dotted lines. Fig. 7- is a sectional view (if this device taken in the plane cf-, *ig. 6. Fig. 8 is a view one halt" in elevation and one half in section of a dividing box for. a battery of eight heaters, the part in section being taken in the plane g-h-, Fig. 9. Fig. 9- is a plan View of the same, one half in section, the part in section being taken in the plane -z'-j-, Fig. 8.

1 is the casing of the heater; 2- the tubular or other foundation or support. 3 is a float chamber; a oil separator; 5- water seal or trap; 6 exhaust inlet to separator; 7 exhaust outlet from heater; 8- cold water inlet to dividing box 11-; 9 blow of]? to waste; 10- Waste pipe from water seal; 11 dividing box; 12-v outlet from same, or in other words, coid water inlet to individual heaters; 1 3 regulating valve for cold water supply to dividing box;

other half being the opposite side or back 14* rod and lever connection between float and regulating valve; 15- float shown in dotted lines in float chamber --3; 16 vent to float chamber; 17 outlet from heaters; 18 outlet from float chamber to feed pump; 20 thermometer; 21+ tray door; 22- eleaning door;' 23v transfer valvein exhaust steam su ply, Fig. 3, for cuttin out heater; 24' valve in outlet pipe from 'viding box to heater for cutting out heater; 2 5 valve in inlet pipe from heater to float chamberfor same purpose.

' In Figs. 4 and 5 26 is the main valve for controlling the cold water supply from the main 27 tothe whole system of installation. 28* is a chemical tank from whichch'f'nical solution is supplied to the cold water feed in the pipe is a steam jacket for the chemical supply; 30:- is the steam pipe,-'in this case shown. as leading from exhaust inlet pipe,-convey ing steam to the jacket 29-; 3l31 are wash water conduits to the heaters 3232 are the entrances to the cold water supply pipes or conduitsof the various heaters in the dividing box 1'l;' 3,3-33- are connections to the main' pump suction into which the pipesystem -18- empties, the outlet -17-17- from the various heaters in turn emptying into the system 18-; 34- 3;} is the waste System into which the various blow offs, wash outsjover flows, traps,

dra n etc., empty, 35, Fig. 5, is the floor,

here shown in sectlon in order that the preferred arrangement of piping, etc., might be shown beneath. 3636- are valves in the exhaust steam supply pipes leading through the oil separators 4-4 into the heaters. 37-37 are large conduits or mains feeding the smaller exhaust steam systems controlled by these valves .36.

Referring'to Figs. 6 and 7 38 are par titions dividin r tllQbOX -11-, but not extending en'tirey to the top of the box, so that the water may be divided equally between the two heaters fed through pipes at -1212. In this figure these partitions form, with 'the walls of the box, the conduits -3232, "here preferably made integral with the box. In order to secure the regulation, equalization and other advantages in the handling of very small quantities of water, I prefer to provide these partitions with a -V- shaped upper edge. This, it will be seen, permits a very small quantity to pass over at the bottom of the -V-, in-t creasing in quantity but remaining constant in 'iroportion as the feed through -'l3- increases. 1

Figs. 8 and 9 show the same construction in the pipes -;32- which are provided with. --V shaped notches in the upper edge. 3.) is a vent in the top of the dividing box -l1 40, Fig. 8, is a leveling screw of which there are four for the purpose of I adjustment. 41-4:17 are valved washout connections, emptying, like the traps or water seals 5, into the waste p1pe-34 (see Figs. 4 and 5).

It will, of course, be understood that, while the construction, arrangement, dimensions, and even designs of the various elements of apparatus may, and generally do difier where but two heaters and their accessories are employed from those employed in combinations of a larger number,-yet the prineiple,;and the'method by which that principle is carried out, may be and indeed are identical in all cases. This principle s the furnishing all the heaters of a system, irrespective of the number comprising that system, with substantially the same amount of water, under substantially the same amount'of pressure, traveling at substantially the same rate, and in substantially the same time.

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the arrangement and operation of the apparatus b which my method is carried out are as to lows:

I place a dividing box 11 intermediate the two heaters. To this box 11 I connect the cold water supply --8, and from it I run the conduits -12, one to. each heater in the system; In the cold water su ply conduit 8- is a valve -13- adiipted to automatically regulate and control the sup ly of water passing there- Beneath is the and simultaneously to both heaters. .ln'

them and in the float box 3* it rises to a certain level depending upon the demand "made by the pumps, is well known in the art, and need not be here and now more particularly set' forth. "The outlet of treated water now passes into the float box this being connected with both or all of the heaters ot' the system it follows that 'the height of the water line inth'e float box -3-, is more or less dependent on the water lines, or, in other Words, the amount of wa' vter in all the heaters, and the amount of water in the float box -3- will so adjust itselfthat the proper amount of water will be supplied (as is-just ex lained, by the operation of the interme iary float -15-, float mechanism- '14. and regulating valve 13, to thedividing box 11, and thence, by HlCfli'lS of conduit to the pipes -12?- aud finally the heaters '1',.

It ,also liollOWs that,-since thewater passing amount of wet uerforms the same amount of duty, and the Water lines or levels in each -l1eater will so adjust themselves that the one end of the bal'ter oii heaters. J

same quantity of Water will pass from each heater, and it also follows that each heater Will take its proper share of exhaust steam by induction, if there'is' no particular pressure in the main, and. providing that there are no restrictions in any of the h 'anch exhaust lines to the heaters, as each heater is capable of condensing an equal amount oi steam,

In case it should he desired to out out one of the heaters for purposes of cleaning, repair or any other reason, valves -2lin the incoinipg supply pipes tothc heater and valves .io-- ill the outgoing supply pipes to the float box,-also the transfer valve 23- (see Fig. in the exhaust steam pipe,-are provided by which the heater in question may be isolated or eliminated from the other members of the operative combination.

In Figs. l and 5, I have illustrated the system -as adapted to a battery of eight heaters, and this nun'ilier could, of course, be indefinitely increased in this and Similar arrangcnnmls, l pn' to place the float box -3- and rcgulalingg valve -*l3- at The box 3 being connected through the pipes -18" and -'l7- with the various heaters, the Water level will adjust itself in relation and such in extent as to insure the supply of the proper quantities of water, as already explained in the case of the two-h ater systern Shown in F 1, 2 and 3. The divid.-' ing box is placed high to give a Sullicient head to the feed Water entering the heaters, thus overcoming the variations in friction caused by the diil'crent lengths of the pipes -12-. Moreover, if desired, each pipe may he fitted with a water seal. Herc also I may cut out any one or more of the heating units by closing valves -24 25 and -;l(;--- attacking the particular heating" unit. I

it will he clcar that one ol the advantages of my invenlioi': lies in the ability to cut out one or more lmalicrs from a -oinbinalion, yet without affecting the relative operation and clliciency of the the uniformity and equality of Whose operation remain constant because both the supply and outflow are common, simultaneous and equal, and are governed by the same condition ,--tl1at is, an equal supply through the intermediary of the same means: a common float box, float valve, and dividing box, and common pump suction.

Where l wish to use a chemical piuifying remaining units,

- discharged from the apparatus I install it also by preferencecat one end as shown in Fi s. 4 and 5.

As this device is Well known, and as it does not in itself form a part of this inven lion, 1 will not here further describe it, than to say that the chemical solution enters the cold water pipe 8 at a point between the regulating valve -'13 and the dividing box -l1.

It Will be seen that the cold Water feed through 8 is divided equally amongthe eight heaters in the dividing box -11--- by means of the pipes -32-; and, since the float loos EL- is common to all, are the exhaust. steam supply, the wastes, and the pump suction,it follows um 'an equal division of work is accomplished.

Of course, it will be understood that I may depart from the exact illustrated arrangement, either in number, size, design or otherwise, without departing fron the spirit of my invention; and indeed I donor limit myself to any particular tangible means or device. Moreover, I do not limit myself to the regulation, heating or other treatment of Water, but include the regulation and treatment of any fluid in the manna-claimed, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I I 1. The combination of a plurality of heatnu units, and means, for automatically and simultanemisly furnishing an equal quan tity of water to each unit.

2. The combination of a plurality of heat ing' unitsg and means for furnishing an equal quantity of water'to the various heating units, the total quantity varying according to and dependent upon the" quantity of Water discharged from the several heating units.

The combination of 'a plurality of heating units, and means for furnishing and regulating a supply of Water automatically and simultaneously to each of the heating units, the total quantity varying according. to and dependent upon the quantity of Water several units.

4'. The combination of a plurality of heating units, and means for automatically controlling the admission of Water to a common distributing point, according to and tie pendent upon the quantity of Water discharged from all the heating units, and

automatically furnishing equal quantities of water simultaneously to each of the heating units from the common distributing point.

5. In combination, a plurality of heating; units, means for automatically and simultaneously furnishin-"g equal quantities of yirater to each of said heating units; means for supplying automatically and simultaneously steam to each of said heating units, and

means for discharging from each unit simultaneously an equal quantity of heated Water.

neously to each of said heaters; other means automatically operated to control said first means.

.7. In combination with a plurality of heating units, a dividing box connected with each of said units; a common outlet for each of said heating units; means in said outlet for controlling the admission of water to said dividing box.

8. In combination with a plurality of heating units, a common distributing box for said heating units; means for cutting ofi one or more-of said heating units from said common distributing box; means automatically controlling the supply of Water to said distributing box, and a common outlet for said heating units.

9. The combination of a plurality of heaters; means for supplying an equal quantity of Water to each of said heaters; a common discharge for all of said heaters; a float chamber connected with said common discharge; a float in said chamber; said float controlling said supply means, and means for cutting off one or more of said heaters from said common discharge.

10. The combination of a )lurality of heaters, a common distributing on for said heaters; 21. Water supply pipe for said dis-- tributing box; a valve in said pipe; means within said box for equally distributing a supply of fluid to each of said heaters; a

common discharge pipe for said heaters, and. means governed by the discharge to control the supply through the operation of the valve in the supply pipe.

11. The combination of ,a plurality of heaters, means for supplying an equal amountof steam to said heaters; a dividing common to all of said heaters; means .within said dividing box to cause the equal distribution of fluid to each of said heaters; an inlet for said dividingbox; a valve in said inlet automatically operating to control the admission of fluid to said dividing box; a common discharge for all of said heaters: and means for cutting out one or more of said heaters from said common discharge.

12 The combination of a plurality of heating units, and means for furnishing a correlated quantity of Water to each of said units, said means comprising a reservoir, a source of water supply for said reservoir, a

plurality of partitions for said reservoir, said partitions having correlated overflow edges, and independent conduits for conveying the overflow from said partitions to the several heating units.

13. Means for supplying fluid to a plurality of points in correlated. quantities comprising a reservoir, a source of fluid supply for said reservoir, a plurality of partltlons for said reservoir having correlated overflow edges, and independent conduits for conveying the overflow from each of said partitions to the desired points.

1%. Means for supplying fluid to a plurality of points in correlated quantities comprising a reservoir, a source of fluid supply to said reservoir, a plurality of partitions for said reservoir having notches throu h which the fluid may overflow, and independent conduits for conveying the overflow from each of said partitions to the desired points.

15. Means for supplying fluid to a plurality of points in correlated quantities, comprising a reservoir, a source of fluid supply to said reservoir, a plurality of partitions for said reservoir having correlated V shaped notches through which the fluid may overflow, and independent conduits for conveying the overflow from each of said partitions to the desired points. I

16. The combination of a plurality of heating units; and means for furnishing an equal quantity of water to each unit, dependent upon a common water level.

17. The combination of a plurality of heating units; and means for simultaneously furnishing an equal quantity of water to each unit, dependent upon a common Water level.

18. The combination of a plurality of heating units; and means for automatically and simultaneously furnishing an equal quantity of Water to each unit dependent upon a common water level.

it). The combination of a plurality of heating units; and means for furnishing an equal quantity of water from a common distributing point to the various heating units, dependent upon a common water level.

Signed at Philadelphia in the county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, this 

